As the 2019 Miami Open begins, five women could end the tournament as World #1. Who will take the top spot at the end of the week? How can each player achieve the feat.
Naomi Osaka
The current holder of two Grand Slam titles (Australian Open and the US Open) Naomi Osaka will need to reach the final at the 2019 Miami Open in order to stay at the top ranking position. However, should she fail to do that, there are four other women possibly able to capitalize on that mistake. Osaka has been the leader since 28th of January this year, when she defeated Petra Kvitova in the Australian Open final.
Petra Kvitova
It’s the very same Czech player who has the biggest shot at regaining the top ranking spot, which she has never held before. Aside from the runner-up performance at the first Grand Slam of the year, Kvitova also finished second-best in Dubai (lost to Bencic) and captured a title in the second week of the year in Sydney (defeated Barty). The World No. 2 lost her opening match in Indian Wells to Venus Williams, but might still become the 27th leader in WTA history with a good run here. Winning the title would guarantee it, as she and Osaka are in the same half (we also have a more in-depth preview) and she could also do it with a runner-up performance if the Japanese woman fails to reach the quarterfinals.
Simona Halep
Simona Halep has already spent 64 weeks at the top position and she can further improve on that score with a title or a runner-up finish here. Should she win the title, it would require Osaka to fail prior to the final. A loss in the finals would make it a lot more complicated, as then for Halep to become ranked No. 1 yet again, the Japanese woman would have to lose before Round 4 and the final defeat would have to be not against Kvitova.
Angelique Kerber
The German had three stints at the top spot in the past, for a total of 34 weeks. Should she win the tournament, Osaka losing in the fourth round or earlier would let her become WTA No. 1 once more.
Elina Svitolina
The Ukrainian can also (as Kvitova) become the 27th ranking leader in WTA history. However, even if she won the title, Osaka would have to lose in her very first match and Svitolina’s final opponent would have to be someone else than Petra Kvitova.
To sum it up, a leader change in the WTA is very much possible, although pretty unlikely. And anyone other than Osaka or Kvitova would be a real surprise.
